Celtics Call Up Neemias Queta Replacement With Elite Defensive Potential
The Boston Celtics will be without one of their best players for Wednesday night’s NBA Cup game against the Detroit Pistons, as center Neemias Queta has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain.
Replacing Queta won’t be easy, especially defensively. He’s had a massive impact on the Celtics this season, leading the team in rebounding and blocks per game while singlehandedly elevating their defense.
Boston called up Queta’s replacement on Tuesday, activating rookie Amari Williams from the Maine Celtics in the G League.
Williams, 23, is on a two-way contract with the Celtics. He was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic this year before being traded to Boston in late June.
He’s been dominating the G League, averaging a double-double while making nearly two-thirds of his field goal attempts.
Williams already played two games for the Celtics, most recently on Nov. 1 against the Houston Rockets. He’s only seen seven minutes of court time so far, but he’s set for an expanded role on Wednesday with Queta sidelined.
While Williams is still unproven in the NBA, he has exciting potential according to his former college coach, Kentucky’s Mark Pope.
“He just was such an elite-level guy. He saved us,” Pope told Bobby Krivitsky of Forbes. “I can’t overstate the importance of the impact he had on our season.”
Williams will get a chance to prove himself on Wednesday in a tough home matchup against the Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference with a 15-2 record.